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A government now By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Israel, Tzipi Livni, Knesset Two weeks after prime minister-designate Tzipi Livni's victory in the Kadima primary, and the outlines of the next government remain unknown. The initial attempt to create a broad government including Likud and perhaps parties to its right failed because opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu hopes Livni will not be able to form a government and that her admission of failure will lead to early elections. So Livni is moving ahead in talks with parties in the current coalition, reinforced perhaps by Meretz and United Torah Judaism. This is the right move to explore without delay under the circumstances, although another month or so remains of the six weeks President Shimon Peres gave Livni. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government was established in the spring of 2006 based on the balance of power elected in the Knesset. Changes forced on this government were more personal than ideological. Olmert's senior coalition partner, Labor Party chairman and defense minister Amir Peretz, was pushed out after his defeat by Ehud Barak in the Labor primary. Olmert was forced to resign because of the criminal allegations against him. Barak's entry to the cabinet a year ago, replacing Peretz, led to no great changes. This model should also be applied when Olmert passes the baton to Livni: minimal movement and a freezing of the situation. This is not to say that any of the partners' demands in a Livni government would be unjustified. Labor and Meretz seek to oust Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, who is constantly undermining the status of the law-enforcement system. Friedmann was never elected to his post; he was Olmert's personal appointment, though he was approved by the cabinet and Knesset. By all rights he should leave the public stage with Olmert and go back where he came from. Advertisement Although Livni wants to distinguish herself from Olmert on this point, she seeks to strengthen her position in Kadima vis-a-vis her rival Shaul Mofaz, and with regard to the issue of Friedmann, who is allied with his predecessor as justice minister, Haim Ramon. Livni is therefore signaling that she will not ask Friedmann to give up the portfolio and that she wants Ramon in her cabinet, too, although not necessarily with the meaningless title of vice premier. This signal bodes poorly for someone who ran on a platform of clean politics and integrity. Two portfolios linked to law enforcement - justice and public security - held by the ruling party is not good for democracy even when those holding them are unbiased. It would be better to go back to the way it was in David Ben-Gurion's cabinet, when the justice minister was usually a member of another party (Pinhas Rosen). It may be hoped that Livni will move in this direction down the road, if not immediately, and that she will improve Kadima's underwhelming representation in the cabinet in other ways. This reshuffle could be done in the near future, not long after the formation of the government, which is essential for stability at this time. We need a government now. Improvements can wait a while. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Rise in anti-Semitism ADL warns financial crisis is causing upsurge in anti-Jewish activity on the internet. Bubbes for Obama Comedian posts video calling on Jews to lobby Florida grandparents to vote Obama.

Read & React Ex-U.S. weapons hunter: Iran 2-5 years from bomb Responses: 112 Iran supreme leader: Israel is on a path to destruction Responses: 98 IDF commander: Rightist violence encouraged by settler leaders Responses: 48 Aluf Benn: Israel has become a schizophrenic state Responses: 44 More Headlines 01:39 ADL: Financial crisis sparking upsurge in anti-Semitism on internet 01:26 Deri: Court punishing my supporters by barring me from Jerusalem vote 22:03 Iran official: We may halt enrichment for nuclear fuel guarantees 21:45 Pakistan President gets fatwa for 'flirting' with Sarah Palin 00:53 VIDEO / Comic tells U.S. Jews to make sure their bubbes vote Obama 22:21 From The Fringe, Post II / Israel and modern-day slavery 13:30 NEW ON HAARETZ.COM / Play the news: Build your own Israeli government 22:21 TASE suffers sharp losses as Senate okays $700b bailout 18:50 Man charged with raping mentally disabled girl, infecting her with AIDS 17:49 Top IDF general: Don't be fooled by the quiet in the North 01:43 Olmert refuses to respond to questions on Rishon Tours affair 12:09 Report: Israel believes Syria renewing its nuclear activity 13:09 Rightist MK: Attack on leftist prof. being used as excuse to sully settlers 20:59 Lake Kinneret drops to lowest ever recorded water level 10:26 VIDEO / Israeli, Palestinian women come together to lose weight Previous Editions Select Day 02 oct 01 oct 30 sep 29 sep 28 sep 26 sep 25 sep 24 sep 23 sep 22 sep 21 sep 19 sep

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